Quoting the CBC Link
Pedestrians and cyclists will have free reign over Memorial Drive on Sundays if a Calgary alderman's test project to turn part of the street into a promenade works out, CBC News has learned.
Ald. Druh Farrell, whose ward includes Hillhurst-Sunnyside, is proposing to close the two lanes of Memorial Drive from 10th Street N.W. to the curling club on 3rd Street on Sundays in August.
The other two lanes of Memorial Drive would be turned into two-way traffic for vehicles
"It's getting people active. We have a very successful pathway system. It's giving people a little bit more room in an urban area," Farrell told CBC News. "It's taking back the street for one day a week in the summer."
Details still need to be ironed out, but the pilot project will likely happen over a few Sundays in August, she said.
"We're choosing low traffic days, and certainly Sundays — it's a day where people like to get out and recreate — and this an area that needs a little bit more space for that."
Businesses, community welcome idea
Citing successful pedestrian projects on busy streets in Ottawa, New York City and Europe, Farrell said she envisions people enjoying the waterfront on foot, bicycle, and in-line skates.
Annie MacInnis, executive director of the Kensington Business Revitalization Zone, which represents businesses in the district, hopes people taking advantage of the promenade will stop by stores and restaurants in the area.
"We're thrilled that the city is thinking of ways to help these small shopping districts thrive in these hard times," she said.
The Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association welcomed the idea that would open access to the river.
"Making that a central hub if the right of way were to be … across Hillhurst-Sunnyside would be a great opportunity to draw people in," said David White, chair of group's planning committee.
If successful, the promenade could be expanded into Bridgeland and Chinatown, said Farrell.
"Because of the improvements we're doing on Memorial Drive and it's looking very nice, it just made a perfect fit," she said. "It will be a lot of fun."
I am 100% behind this type
Submitted by critninja on
I am 100% behind this type of initiative in Calgary and think it is about time - however - I am a little concerned about the road that has been chosen to test this.
From the cockpit of this guys bike, on the face of it, Memorial Dr between 10th and 3rd does not seem like the right choice. There are no buisnesses fronting the roadway and with the pathway right there it will be easy for detractors to criticize the project.
This is just a guess, but I wonder if the road was chosen because it does not have any transit running on it???
Does anyone have any ideas on why Memorial was chosen (besides the fact that this section of road is in Ald. Farrell's ward) ???
Why did they not look at 17th Ave SW - or Kensington Rd/10 St NW - or - 4th St SW ???
Just to be clear - I think this project is great and we (as cyclists) should support it.
Memorial
Submitted by Cword on
Memorial was probably chosen just because there is no place to go there. No cross traffic, no businesses whinging about customer access and parking access.
It's also already had several trial runs, having been closed in this manner for many a marathon.
Ciclovía
Submitted by ride on
i have been reading (and
Submitted by critninja on
i have been reading (and commenting) on this story on cbc calgary's website and there are a lot of people who are in favour of the idea but think the road in question is a poor choice. i guess we can only hope that Ald. Farrell will see the response and choose a more suitable roadway.
my dream route would be 17th ave sw to 14th st sw to kensington rd nw to 10th st nw over the louise bridge to 8th ave sw to 4th st sw back to 17th ave sw - big loop, taking in all the great shopping districts and Stephen ave.
dreaming - i know - but reality is what dreams are made of!
Consultation
Submitted by mike runs on
What bugs me is how decisions seem to get made in this city.
Instead of consulting with the community, asking the bike community or the running community or whatever, decisions seem to get made by press release and a desire to build momentum.
As far as I can tell this is the initiative of one person who knows how to work the press. Is that how policy gets made?
I like the general idea but I wish more thought was going into it, the best location for it, etc.
I don't know anything about Ottawa but Winnipeg does an awesome job of closing Wellington Crescent every sunday through the summer and it makes for a great day of cycling, blading, running or just strolling between the downtown area and Assiniboine park. But the cool thing is that it connects two areas that aren't already connected by paths. In Calgary's case, the stretch between 10th and the Curling Club is already connected by major paths on both sides of the river, plus the paths on the ridge. I don't know what the point of this is.
I'd like to see 4th St
Submitted by kat on
I'd like to see this happen to 4th St. It'd be like Lilac Festival every weekend.
4th St vs Memorial Drive for closure
Submitted by ride on
The point of the closure is to give the public back the road that is normally taken over by cars. As some have pointed out, Memorial Drive already has on its margin lots of space for non-motorists.
In Sunnyside, the community association has closed off 10 St on occasion for special events, and they manage to jam the streets with people. With Mission being a trendy district of shops and restaurants -- a kind of Kensington South -- I wonder whether it wouldn't be well received to close 4 St from 17 Ave to Elbow Drive and let the people take over the car space. The buses that run down 4 St could easily detour over to 2 St or 5 St.
Choosing 4 St might provide a bigger usage of the closed, I mean re-purposed, road space and thus make the concept a bigger success.
Memorial Closure
Submitted by umgray on
I have read a lot of comments and editorials on this in the last few days. i agree with many on the choice of location but also understand that the fact there is no buses on this section makes it a prime choice. Regardless, as an advocate of bicycling and closing roads for summer fun we need to put our differences aside and at least attend this trial for if it fails, it will be so hard to try it again anywhere in Calgary. bikeCalgary.org should get a table set up to promote the site and bicycle commuting. We could get the bike polo gang out for a impromt game of bike polo and clinic. How to fix your bike stand (I am sure a local mechanic would love to help). How about a kids bike decorating station. There are hundreds of ideas we can come up with, but we need to show our support (regardless of the city's lack of consultation on this idea and the location) and SHOW UP.
I will.
bike polo? ya! decorating
Submitted by critninja on
bike polo? ya!
decorating bikes? ya!
bikecalgary table? ya!
Bike Jousting & Beer Gardens
Submitted by gyrospanner on
YA!
YA!
YAAAA BAAAABY!
Sorry, I've got a severe case of Flames Fever.......
I even thought about strapping a Flames flag to my bike this morning!
Not to mention that I'm sure there are lots of ordinances, bylaws, insurance issues etc. that will prevent us from having any fun....
Still, it would be kinda' nice to have a festival atmosphere related to this.
Why?
Submitted by bike-run on
I don't see the point of closing half of Memorial drive when there is a pathway on one side, a sidewalk on the other side, and no businesses anyway. Like was said, there are other places that make more sense.